Heel-retainer



J. E. LUDLAM.

HEEL RETAINER.

APPLICATION FlL ED APR. 5-, 1919.

Patented Dec. 9,1919.

mwwtcvz jzrmas flzadlavu Guam;

JAMES E. LUDLAM, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

HEEL-RETAINER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentedDe-c. 9, 1919.

Application filed April 5, 1913. Serial No. 287,676.

I To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMEs E. LUDLAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Heel-Retainers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in shoe retainers and the primary object of the invention is to provide a device which is attached within the shoe and which will function to afford a comfortable cushion for the heel and will also hold the latter firmly so as to prevent slipping or upward and downward movement of the heel within the shoe, and accordingly eliminate chafing.

Fig. 3, is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.'

In proceeding in accordance with the present invention a retainer 1s employed preferably formed of leather, the top edge 2, of which is formed at such obtuse angle so that when stitched as at 3 within the shoe, will lie flush with the top edge of the shoe as shown in Fig. 1, and will closely follow the contour of such shoe edge. The bottom edge at, is preferably curved as shown,

though it may be made straight, or other-' wise configured as desired.

The top edge is stitched throughout to the shoe, but the bottom edge is left free and held suspended accordingly, so that free space exists between the retainer and the shoe, this space gradually increasing as the bottom of the retainer is approached, as'

depicted in Fig. 1.

The central portion of the leather base or body 1, is formed with a cut-out within which is stitched an elastic member 5, the latter forming a part of the bottom edge of the leather base 1, and being of such length so as to effectively engage the heel of the wearer. This elastic member may be of different shapes, and is preferably elastic webbing, but in any event must be of elastic nature while the body must be flexible though not necessarily leather.

The elastic member is thus held suspended within the shoe and can conform itself freely to the heel. Its bottom edge is free for this latter purpose while its top and ends are held by the leather base or body 1, and may also give to effect the desired conformation to the heel. The elastic is thus free of con nection with the shoe as concerns its entirety, both upper and lower edges'as well as ends. 7

The device is simple in construction and due to the support aflorded by the leather body or base, the webbing is not subjected to the direct stresses resultant from the shoe being drawn over the foot and removed therefrom.

lVhat is claimed is :f y Y 1. In a shoe retainer, a flexible base formed so as to be stitched to the top edgeof the shoe so as to lie flush with said top edge and to have its remainder lie in "spaced relation to the shoe, said base having a cut out which extends between its ends, below its top and through its bottom, and an elastic member secured in said cut-out so as to be held completely free from the shoe throughout its area.

2. In a shoe retainer, a leather base having obtuse top angles so as to be stitched to the top. edge of the shoe to lie flush therewith and to have itsremain- -de r lie in spaced relation to the shoe, said base havlng a cut-out below its top and extending through its 'bottom and disposed between its ends, and elastic webbing secured in the cut-out, the bottom edge of the webbing lying flush with the bottom edges of the base.

3. In a shoe reta1ner, a base of flexible material formed so asto be stitched at the F. W. SMITH, M. T. LONGDEN. 

